Aeros' playoff chances looking good despite loss

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Aeros can thank the Milwaukee Admirals for helping them get one step closer to the playoffs Sunday afternoon because they certainly didn't help themselves.

A few hours after the Admirals beat the Chicago Wolves down the road in Rosemont, Ill., the Aeros were flat in a 2-1 loss to the Rockford IceHogs at the MetroCentre.

By the time Morten Madsen scored the only goal of the game for them, the Aeros were already destined for their third straight loss. But because Milwaukee beat fifth place Chicago, the Aeros' magic number for clinching one of the last three playoff spots fell to eight points.

Pascal Pelletier scored a goal and added an assist and Adam Hobson scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the seventh minute for the IceHogs. But the No. 1 star of the game was Antti Niemi who, just two days after stopping 11 of 13 shots in both teams' longest shootout of the year, made 29 saves to help Rockford take the last regular season game between the two teams.

The Aeros outshot the IceHogs 13-8 in the third period, but could not get the tying goal past Niemi after Madsen made it 2-1 with 2:25 to play.